Matthew 27:24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Jeremiah 2:35 you say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, ‘I have not sinned.’
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hebrews 10:29-30 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
“Oh, the daring of Pilate thus in the sight of God to commit murder and disclaim it. There is a strange mingling of cowardliness and courage about many men; they are afraid of a man, but not afraid of the eternal God who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” (Spurgeon)
Vain hope pulls many into believing their heart is pure and their conscience is clear of wrong doing. In this hope many find ways to justify their words and actions that neither honor and glorify Jesus Christ or are in line with godly living. Being negligent in God’s Word does not free a person to say my heart is pure and conscience clear for lack of knowing. By the very fact they intentionally choose to neglect God’s Word or have any desire to hear Him speak into their lives, is as if they are saying you are not worthy of my interest, my time, my all. Like Pilate, they wash their hands of any responsibility for their lack of desire to live for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. No excuse can be made on judgement day for neglecting Jesus Christ and living for Him. What will a person say? I was busy. I went to church. I lived peaceably. I was kind. I was generous. I was not as bad as other people. It was just to hard to understand.
On judgement day every thought, word, and action the heart and mind of a person has taken, in an instant, they will become aware that it all was exposed before the eyes of God before it even happened. What will a person say at this time of Judgement? They will know without any doubts that they have disregarded, rejected, and denied God, the Word of God, and Jesus Christ. There will be no excuses residing in their mouths for they shall see clearly the Son of God they have cast away as not worthy of their thoughts or time.
Trying to justify ourselves before God is to put ourselves and things we do ahead of Jesus Christ. Our hope is in what we have done or are doing. Our justification is in Christ alone. Period. He is the author and finisher our redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and hope of eternal life.
Do not think you can wash your hands of neglect, complacency, denial, rejection, or whatever else is contrary to living for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do.